The quiet lanes of Sunet, a village in Ludhiana district, have undergone a remarkable transformation. From a sleepy settlement with just a handful of shops, it has erupted into a vibrant global hub for hand embroidery. Today, its intricate craftsmanship adorns wardrobes in far-off nations like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The Great Migration of Talent
The story of Sunet's rebirth began in the mid-1990s. Artisans from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, seeking more stable work and better opportunities, started arriving in the village. Mohammad Kamil, an artisan who came from Pilibhit in the year 2000, recalls a time when the village had only two or three shops. Now, Sunet is a second home to an estimated 8,000 migrant artisans from regions like Bareilly, Hardoi, Bihar, and West Bengal.
What started as a search for livelihood has turned into permanent settlement. While many artisans rent small rooms to run their businesses, others who have been working here for nearly three decades have bought land and put down roots. This influx has fundamentally rewired the local economy, a change highlighted during recent reflections on International Migrants Day.
The Soulful Art That Machines Cannot Copy
At the core of Sunet's global appeal is a steadfast commitment to handmade artistry. The artisans firmly believe that the soul of their work lies in the minute details that automation can never replicate. They specialize in a stunning array of traditional techniques:
- Resham and Tilla: Delicate embroidery using fine silk and metallic threads.
- Zari and Dabka: Intricate work involving gold threads and coiled wire.
- Sippi Sitara and Pearl Work: Beautiful embellishments with sequins and beads.
This skilled handiwork is used to create everything from vibrant Punjabi suits and lavish bridal lehngas to sacred Rumala Sahib – the cloths used to cover the Sikh holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib. For the latter, artisans like Akram Bet adhere to a strict code of cleanliness and reverence, treating the work as a matter of deep faith.
For customers, Sunet has become a cost-effective alternative to high-end city boutiques. Shoppers like Jasleen Kaur visit the village for its satisfactory quality and reasonable prices, getting luxury-level work without the luxury price tag.
A Village Rewoven with New Threads
The demographic fabric of Sunet has changed profoundly. While many of the village's original Punjabi residents have moved abroad or to modern townships, the migrant community has filled the space, adding a rich new cultural texture. For the artisans, Sunet offers something their hometowns often could not: consistent, year-round work.
Mohammad Iqbal, 55, who moved from Bareilly, confirms this, stating that back home, work was scarce and irregular. Here, the demand is continuous. The legacy of these migrant workers is now intricately stitched into Sunet's identity – a once-quiet village has been expertly woven into the very fabric of the international fashion trade, its story told in shimmering Resham and gleaming Zari thread.
